This powerful historical novel draws inspiration from the haunting memories of the author's father, Nicias Aridjis, a Greek army captain who returned to Smyrna in 1922 as Turkish forces captured the city. The narrative reveals the unimaginable horrors of the Smyrna Catastrophe, which unfolded between September 13 and 22, when Turkish troops rampaged through the city, torturing and massacring tens of thousands of Greeks and Armenians while deliberately igniting devastating fires. Amidst the chaos, Nicias searches for Eurydice, the love he left behind, navigating a city under siege. His journey is filled with echoes of ancient Greek poets, blending mythological and historical elements as he witnesses the depths of human depravity. As he moves through familiar streets, he experiences a living hell, observing the brutal acts committed by Turkish forces against the Greek and Armenian populace. Despite the brutality, the lyrical voice of the author, described as a visionary poet, transforms these chaotic scenes into poignant drama. In the end, aboard one of the last ships escaping Smyrna, Nicias confronts the overwhelming tragedy and abandons his homeland forever. While not a historian, Nicias's personal experiences are enriched by fictional episodes and testimonies from those who lived through the catastrophe, creating a vivid portrayal of a genocide in progress.
